Hypothyroidism and Weight Management

You can point to your heart and lungs and describe their functions. But how often do you think about your thyroid, even though this small hormone-producing gland located at the base of the neck directly impacts our everyday vital-ity and bodily functions?

The thyroid regulates all aspects of metabolism from the burning of calories to maintaining body temperature. This gland affects the rate at which your heart beats, and even your level of sexual desire. It’s surprising that this essential organ is not better understood when you consider that some form of thyroid dysfunction affects more than 4 million men and 8 million women in the U.S.

A Sluggish Thyroid

Nitrates in processed foods can inhibit the release of thyroid-stimulating hormone leading to low thyroid function, as can stress. Both chloride and fluoride in tap water block iodine receptors in the thyroid gland. Additional causes include autoimmune or pituitary imbalance. Whatever the reason for hypothyroidism, this condition requires appropriate medical treatment.

Suspect lowered thyroid function if you are constantly cold (while others around you feel fine) and if you feel mostly fatigued and listless or are gaining weight (seemingly unable to burn calories). Other symptoms include a puffy face (due to fluid retention), brittle nails, hair loss (including the outer edges of your eyebrows), and depression.

Take Your Temperature

One basic self-test is to take your basal body temperature (BBT). Put a regular thermometer by your bed at night. Upon waking the next day, shake it down below 95° and wedge it into your armpit, keeping it there for a full 10 minutes. Do this at least three days, but ideally longer (especially for women), and chart your temperature. For greatest accuracy, take your temperature at the same time each morning. Women should note where they are in their menstrual cycle because there is a slight elevation in BBT during ovulation. (It’s best to begin charting BBT the second day of menses.)

What constitutes a “normal” BBT differs slightly among experts, but most agree that body temperature should range between 97.8 and 98.2. If your temperature is consistently below 97.7 and you experience some of the signs mentioned, hypothyroidism may be to blame.

Natural Thyroid Support

Adequate nutrition is important to ensure adequate nutrient levels of iodine, which the body stores in the thyroid. Kelp is a rich natural source of iodine as are many sea vegetables. The amino acid tyrosine (available in almonds, avocados, bananas, dairy, eggs, sea vegetables including kelp, and sesame seeds) is a precursor of the thyroid hormone thyroxine.

B vitamins also support a healthy thyroid, as do antioxidant nutrients including vitamins A, C, E, and the mineral selenium (the latter of which appears to be selectively stored in the thyroid). For those who do not consume an optimal diet, a high-quality daily nutritional supplement can help us cover our nutrient bases.

Besides dietary supplementation, the following botanicals support healthy thyroid function:

• Guggul (Commiphora mukul), best known for its cholesterol-lowering effects, is a resin from a tree native to India that has been used for centuries. Guggul’s ability to enhance thyroid function effectively increases uptake of iodine by the thyroid, in addition to increasing the breakdown and excretion of cholesterol in animals. A key component in herbal weight-loss formulas (thanks to its dual effect of increasing fat metabolism and stimulating thyroid function), guggul is highly recommended.
• Antler Velvet (Cornu cervi), the soft covering on deer antlers, has been prized for centuries in China as a premier tonic. Its primary function from a Chinese medical perspective is to increase metabolism or body warmth and to raise vitality—qualities make it uniquely appropriate for low thyroid function, especially with signs of coldness, listlessness, and exhaustion.
• Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is widely used as a spice, and herbalists recommend it as a natural COX-2 inhibitor for reducing inflammation. Evidence also suggests that this herb helps reverse drug-induced hypothyroidism. Additionally, turmeric has strong antioxidant activity that offers a protective effect on the thyroid.

These are only a few of the many botanicals that can be used to support healthy thyroid function. Herbs are important supplements for those either medically diagnosed with hypothyroidism or who have trouble losing weight, are chronically tired, cold, and listless.